Are Wyoming Records Public?

Yes. Under the Wyoming Public Records Act, certain records in Wyoming are deemed public records. This means that the public can access these records to view them, copy them, or obtain certified copies. Wyoming public records are made, created, used, retained, received, maintained, or preserved by a government or public entity in official business or process transactions. These records can be physical records, electronic, or other characteristics. These include records, documents, vouchers, receipts, writings, certificates, materials, maps, papers, photographs, tapes, sound recordings, films, data processing software, video recording, and other materials.

The Act provides that requests for public records should be responded to within seven days of the acknowledgment of the receipt. This response should be made even if the record is in use or active storage and is not available to the applicant at that time by notifying the requester of the unavailability.

Who Can Access Wyoming Public Records?

In Wyoming, almost anyone can access public records by submitting a request during the business hours of the custodian entity. Requests for Wyoming public records are to be made to the appropriate agency. Most agencies with domiciled records require a formal written request and details such as name, contact information, proof of eligibility, and identification. Some require a valid photo ID and additional identification. Compliance with the requirements is the best way to confirm eligibility and successfully get access to Wyoming public records. However, the official custodian of the record may regulate access with sensible regulations and rules for preserving and protecting the records.

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Public Records in Wyoming?

Generally, in Wyoming, requesters of public records are not required to state the purpose and use of the public records. However, where most public records in Wyoming are available without stating a purpose or use, there are some exceptions. For example, some vital records, such as death and birth certificates, contain private information. Therefore, due to privacy concerns, proof of direct relationship to the person on the record or identity of the requester may be required before access to certain vital records. Being clear and specific about the request will help requesters get the records they seek.

Valid purposes for requesting public records by requesters in Wyoming include:

• Journalists can require public records for investigative reporting, fact-checking information, or gathering data for news stories.
• Businesses can require public records for background checks for new employees. Researching market trends or performing due diligence
• Individuals may require vital records of family members while researching family history or ancestry or for property ownership or transactions.
• Attorneys and prosecutors may require public records while preparing for cases, researching for legal proceedings, and verifying the authenticity of legal documents and claims.

What Records are Public in Wyoming?

A broad range of records, such as vital, property, court, criminal, government, and business, are classified as public records in Wyoming. These records include correspondence, exhibits, books, blank forms, court records, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses and certificates, divorce certificates, arrest records, court records, and criminal records. Other examples of public records in Wyoming include election results, voter registration records, public health reports, public school district records, and legislative records.

Wyoming Public Court Records

Wyoming court records include documents and information that are part of the legal proceedings in Wyoming’s judicial system. These records include case files, dockets, sentencing records, and judgment orders. Estate files, guardianship, and conservatory records are maintained by the state's courts and are available to the public to access unless restricted by law. Court records include documents related to the case, complaints, motions, orders, judgments, schedules and summaries of proceedings, final decisions, orders, petitions, briefs, motions, and appellate opinions.

Court records are typically maintained by the Clerk of Court of the court in question. For example, court records of a district court in Wyoming are maintained by the Clerk of Court of the county where the court is located. Similarly, the Clerk of Court of a specified circuit court in Wyoming maintains the circuit court's court records.

Although most court records are public, some records have exceptions to public access. These include:

• Juvenile records such as delinquency proceedings and child protection records such as child abuse, custody, and neglect
• Adoption records to protect the privacy of birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee
• Mental health records such as commitment proceedings, mental health treatment proceedings, or records of involuntary commitment
• Grand jury proceedings
• Court records previously sealed by a court
• Confidential information of an informant in a criminal case

Wyoming Public Criminal Records

Wyoming's criminal records include a range of information and documents maintained by courts and law enforcement agencies that are connected to a person's interaction with Wyoming’s criminal justice system. Criminal records provide information on arrests, bookings, incidents leading to arrest, investigations done by police officers, witness statements, evidence collected, criminal case files, dockets, sentencing records, inmate information, booking logs, and warrant information. Wyoming public criminal records contain the full name of the person arrested and description, date and location of arrest, arresting agency, charges, fingerprints, and photographs such as mugshots, Per Wyoming Statute § 7-19-107 (a) The Division of Criminal Investigation under the Office of the Attorney General maintains the public criminal records of Wyoming.

While there is access to many criminal records, there are restrictions to protect the person's privacy on the record and the judicial process. For example, arrest records, court proceedings, and detention records involving juvenile offenders are confidential and unavailable to the public. Likewise, sealed criminal records, expunged criminal records, records related to active cases or ongoing criminal investigations, personal information of persons on victim and witness protection, and sensitive testimonies such as sexual assault are restricted from public access.

Other records restricted from public view include personally identifiable information, mental health and medical information, domestic violence and protection orders, certain details of the sex offender registry, and probation and parole records. Personally identifiable information such as social security numbers, financial information, driver’s licenses, and home addresses are redacted to protect privacy and prevent identity theft.

Persons requesting Wyoming criminal records are to provide their full name. Date of birth, case number (if known), date and place of arrest, and a written request or fill out a specified form. Interested persons can contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation at:

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
208 South College Drive
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7181
Email: wydci@wyo.gov

Wyoming Public Arrest Records

Wyoming arrest records are the documents that provide information such as date, location, time, charges, and arresting agency on the arrest of individuals in Wyoming. Law enforcement agencies generally create arrest records in the process of arresting individuals. Interested parties can submit a request for arrest records at the local county sheriff’s office or police department where the arrest was made in person and pay applicable fees to obtain the records. Arrest records for ongoing investigations may be unavailable until the completion of the investigations. Also, arrest records of juveniles are not available to the public to protect their privacy.

Wyoming Public Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are official documents that provide complete information about an organization or individual's bankruptcy case. Bankruptcy courts maintain bankruptcy records. Bankruptcy records include:

• Bankruptcy petitions
• Schedules that list the debtor's assets, income, expenses, and liabilities
• Statement of financial affairs showing debtor's financial history, recent income, payments to creditors, and transfers of property
• Creditor matrix listing all of the debtor’s creditors
• Proof of claim, which includes the amount owed and the basis for claims
• Record of creditors 341 meeting where creditors and bankruptcy trustee question the debtor on their financial affairs and the information in the provided bankruptcy documents
• Discharge orders that release the debtor from personal liability
• Reaffirmation agreements between the debtor and the creditor
• Reorganization plans
• Trustee reports

The U.S Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming with offices in Cheyenne and Casper maintains bankruptcy records in Wyoming.

To obtain bankruptcy records in Wyoming, interested persons must provide the case number or the debtor’s name. Requesters may also be required to fill out a form and provide identification.

The bankruptcy courts in Wyoming are located at:

Cheyenne:

US Bankruptcy Court
District of Wyoming
2120 Capitol Avenue
6th Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82001

Casper:

US Bankruptcy Court
District of Wyoming
111 South Wolcott
Casper, WY 82601

The main phone number is (307) 433-2200. Lobby hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wyoming Public Birth Records

Wyoming public birth records include information about the birth of individuals. This information includes the child's information, such as full name, date, time, and place of birth, gender, and parent’s information, such as mother and father’s full names, place of birth, ages, and occupations. Additional information in Wyoming birth records includes birth certificate number and registrar information. The Vital Statistics Services of the Wyoming Department of Health maintains vital records such as birth records in Wyoming.

Persons interested in obtaining Wyoming birth records can request certified copies online through the Wyoming Vital Records Portal after creating an online profile or through mail. Requesters are required to provide a valid government-issued ID and pay the 2.4%, $1.00 minimum convenience fee for every request to the Vital Statistics Services Office, which is located at:

Vital Statistics Services
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7591
Fax: (307) 777-2483
Business Hours: Mon-Fri - 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wyoming Public Death Records

The Vital Statistics Services of the Wyoming Department of Health maintains public death records in Wyoming, which provide information about an individual’s death. Wyoming death records include the decedent's information, such as full name, gender, occupation, place of birth, date and place of death, cause and circumstances of death, and primary cause of death. Also included is the manner of death (natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, undetermined), name of the physician who certified death, and family information such as parents’ names and spouse’s name where applicable.

Persons seeking Wyoming death records are to be immediate family members or lawyers representing the immediate family. To obtain the records, requesters are to provide full name on record, date of death, city or county of death to the Vital Statistics Service at:

Vital Statistics Services
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7591
Fax: (307) 777-2483
Business Hours: Mon-Fri - 8 a.m-4 p.m.

Wyoming Public Marriage Records

Marriage records certify the legal union between two individuals. Wyoming marriage records include the couple’s name, ages, address, date and place of marriage, officiant, witnesses, license number, date of issuance, issuing authority, signature of couple, officiant, and witnesses. The Vital Statistics Services of the Wyoming Department of Health maintains public marriage records in Wyoming. Marriage records that are older than 100 years old are to be obtained through the Wyoming State Archives unless a certified copy is required.

To obtain public Wyoming marriage records, requesters can apply through the Wyoming Vital Records Portal and provide applicant and spouse names, including prior surname and valid government-issued ID card, before processing requests. The lead court in Wyoming is the Supreme Court, and all queries can be directed to the following:

Supreme Court Clerk
Wyoming Supreme Court
2301 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001

Wyoming Public Divorce Records

The Vital Statistics Services of the Wyoming Department of Health maintains public divorce records in Wyoming. For records older than 50 years, interested persons can obtain them from the Wyoming State Archives. Wyoming public divorce records include the names of the divorced persons, address, date of birth, race, gender, date of finalization of divorce, and the county where the divorce was dissolved. Either party in a divorce can obtain the divorce records by providing the full names of the applicant, spouse, date of occurrence, city or county of occurrence, and signature of the applicant or spouse named on the divorce record. Persons interested in obtaining Wyoming public divorce records can obtain them through the Vital Statistics Service for $25. Requests should include a photocopy of a State ID card.

Wyoming Public Inmate Records

The Wyoming Department of Corrections maintains inmate records in Wyoming. Per Wyoming Statute § 7-19-106(m), the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) may release inmate information unless the release will put the inmate at physical risk. However, releasable information is limited to:

• Full name and other means of identification
• Physical descriptions and photographs
• Conviction or list of convictions for which the inmate was committed to custody or supervision
• Release and discharge dates, as well as projected parole eligibility time
• Location of the person’s supervision or custody

Interested persons can look up public Wyoming inmate records using the WDOC Offender Locator or by getting in touch with the WDOC at:

Wyoming Department of Corrections
1934 Wyott Drive, Suite 100
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7208
Fax: (307) 777-7846

Wyoming Public Sex Offender Information

The Sexual Offender Registration Unit (SOR) manages the Wyoming Sex Offender Registry. Interested persons can check the Sex Offender Registry using the Department of Corrections’ website search tool. Users should note that per Wyoming Statute § 7-19-302(j), juvenile offender information will not be displaced. Responsible use and dissemination of sex offender records in Wyoming is important for public safety and local informed decision-making for the protection of children and also for the rehabilitation of offenders. Irresponsible dissemination, on the other hand, can breed mistrust and lead to unjust consequences for persons undergoing rehabilitation, who may not pose a threat.

Wyoming Public Property Records

The Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) maintains all permanent land records for the State of Wyoming. The OSLI provides these records for access. Public property records in Wyoming include plats, maps, leases, and permits. Interested parties can view files of public property records Mondays through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. at the OSLI’s office public information area in Cheyenne at:

Herschler Building
Suite West 103
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002

Interested parties are provided with computers, microfilm, and microfilm machines for record search as well as photocopies, photographs, scans, facsimiles, and mail of records.

What is Exempted Under the Wyoming Public Records Act?

Per the Wyoming Public Records Act (W.S. §16-4-201 some records in Wyoming are exempted from access to members of the public. These records include:

• Details of research projects by Wyoming State’s institutions
• University and school board disciplinary records
• The medical records of hospitals funded by the public
• Labor negotiations

Where a record is exempted from the public, interested parties can file a complaint to the public records ombudsman designated by the governor or petition any of the district courts of Wyoming. The ombudsman or the judge of the District Court will determine if the records should be made available in full or after the redaction of its parts.

How Do I Find Public Records in Wyoming?

Persons interested in finding public records in Wyoming can access these records through the custodial agency of the records. For example, court records can be found through the court where the cases were trialed. Likewise, marriage, birth, death, and divorce records are listed as vital records and are available through the Vital Records Services in Wyoming. Similarly, property records can be found through the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI), sex offender and inmate records through the Department of Corrections, and bankruptcy records through the bankruptcy courts. Some of the custodial agencies provide online portals, websites, and databases that simplify the search of these records.

To efficiently search for public records in Wyoming, interested persons should have information on the search, such as the person’s name, date of birth, case numbers, etc., depending on the particular record search.

Can I Find Free Public Records in Wyoming Using Third-Party Sites?

Yes, there are free third-party public records sites through which interested persons in Wyoming can access public records. Third-party site records depend on collated information from the original government sources therefore they are not as up-to-date as the source websites. Users of third-party websites or search portals should know that some of the most recent records may not show in their searches. Third-party search tools for public records tend to be easier to use and more often than not offer more features than government websites and search tools.

How Much Do Public Records Cost in Wyoming?

Wyoming public record requesters must bear the reasonable cost of producing the record. The cost includes:

• The cost of producing a copy
• The cost of constructing the record
• The cost of programming and computer services
• The cost to search the records

Fees are broken down as follows:

• Production and Construction Costs (Will only be charged if it exceeds $180)
  • Clerical staff time - $15.50 per hour
  • Information technology staff time - $30 per hour
  • Professional staff time - $40 per hour
• Fees for copying non-electronic public records
  • Standard (8.5 by 11 inch) Black and white - $0.10 per page
  • Standard (8.5 by 11 inch) Colored - $0.60 per page
  • Legal (8.5 by 14 inch) Black and white - $0.25 per page
  • Legal (8.5 by 14 inch) Colored - $0.25 per page
  • Other sheet sizes - Actual cost
  • Photograph - Actual cost
  • Use of outside vendor for copy - Actual cost
  • Custodian’s fee to supervise copying - Sum of all production and construction costs
  • Special instances such as film - Actual cost
• Cost of producing electronic copies
  • Scanning non-electronic public records - $0.10 per page
  • Electronic media such as thumb drives or disks - Actual cost
• Cost of transmitting public records
  • Mailing and cost of shipping container - Actual cost
  • Using the Facsimile machine - Actual cost

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

Request to inspect public records in Wyoming can be denied for the following reasons:

• When the request is contrary to state statutes
• When the request contradicts any federal regulation or statute
• When inspection is restricted as a result of the order of any court or by rules promulgated by the supreme court
• The records are of investigations, intelligence information, or security procedures of law enforcement if the disclosure is contrary to the public interest.
• Records are psychological, medical, and sociological data unless mandated by the coroner’s verdict or written docket.

Persons whose request for public records is refused can file a complaint with the Public Records Ombudsman. The ombudsman will mediate between the requester and the governmental entity and decide on the timelines for the release of the records.